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Tornado Watch: 8 Safety Tips for Homeowners

Trillium Staff

Trillium staff members collaborated in writing this post.

Trillium staff members collaborated in writing this post.

Mar 273 minutes read

Tornadoes threaten the safety of millions of homeowners, as well as damage to property, each year. Residents of areas in the path of the twister must be proactive ahead of its touch-down, starting with the following steps, courtesy of the Red Cross:

8 Tornado Safety Tips for Homeowners

1

Build a disaster kit with enough supplies for at least three days. This kit should include:

Battery-powered or hand-crank radio

Copies of important documents

Extra batteries

First-aid kit

Flashlight

Medications

Multi-purpose tool

Non-perishable food

Sanitation/hygiene items

Water

2

Develop an emergency planin which each person knows how to reach other members of the household. Include an out-of-area emergency contact person in the plan, and designate a meeting area should you be unable to return home.

3

Select a safe room, preferably a basement, storm cellar or other window-less interior room on the lowest floor. Be sure all members of the household are aware of its location.

4

5

Watch for signsof a pending storm, such as darkening skies, green-ish clouds, hail and wind. If you can hear thunder, you may be at risk for lightning damage. Remember: If thunder roars, head indoors.

6

Know your community’s warning system, and be alert for its signals. Stay abreast of the latest information regarding the storm by listening to a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Weather Radio or your local news.

When a tornado hits:

7

Go to the designated safe room, or an underground shelter.

If you live in a mobile home, go to the nearest sturdy building. Do not seek shelter in the mobile home’s bathroom or hallway.

8

If caught outdoors, seek shelter in a vehicle. Buckle your seat belt and try driving to the nearest sturdy building. Keep your head down below the windows, if possible.

If you can, drive to an area lower than the level of the roadway, exit the vehicle and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.